Holder for books and the like



'Jan. 2,1923.

2 SHEETS-SHEET Z i 7 #DiBn/mfierad.

Q4 m Mm,

H n. TOWNSEND. v

HOLDER FOR BOOKS AND THE LIKE. HLD FEB. 16, 1921.

Jan. 2, 1923.

1,440,509. H. n. TOWNSEND.

HOLDER FOR BOOKS AND THE LIKE. FILED FEB. 16. 1921.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

Patented is. a, was.

ill S HARRY DAVIS TONNSEND, OF WAZQI-IING'E.0N, DISTEICT OF COLUMBIIA.

HOLDER ron BDOKS AND THE LIKE.

Application filed February 16, 1921. Serial No. 445,481.

To aZZ whom it may concern:

Be. it known that I, HARRY DAVIS Town- SEND, a citizen of the United States, residing at l-Vashington, in the District of Columbia, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Holders for Books and the like, of which the following is a specification.

This invention has as its object to provide a device for use in holding books,

I pamphlets, or the like as for example Christian Science Quarterlies, Bible lesson books, post cards, index cards, photographs, and inf-act any text or similar matter in book, pamphlet or leaf form to which reference is to be made in the course of reading or study work, the delivery of lectures or sermons, etc.

One of the objects of the invention is to provide a device for the purpose stated which will be neat and attractive in appearance and which will support the book, pamphlet or the like placed therein in flat opened condition and at adesired angle of inclination.

Another object of the invention is to so construct the device that it will securely hold the matter placed therein without obscuring any considerable portion thereof.

Another object of the invention is to provide a device for the purpose stated which, while adapted to support the matter to be held therein in an inclined position, will not be liable to be overturned or be overbalanced.

Another object of the invention is to so construct the device that one member thereof may be readily separated from the base so that when the device is not in use or is being carried about from place to place it may be conveniently arranged within a limited space.

In the accompanying drawings:

Figure 1 is a. perspective view of one form of the device embodying the invention;

Figure 2 is a front elevation thereof;

Figure 3 is a side elevation;

Figure 4 is a perspective view illustrating the backrest separated from the base;

Figure 5 is a View partly in side elevation and partly in front to rear section illustrating the form shown in the preceding figures;

Figure 6 is a view similar to Figure 5 illustrating a modification of the invention;

Figure 7 is a perspective view of the back restof the form shown in Figure 6.

The device embodying the invention. comprises a. base which is indicated in general by the numeral 1 and which may be of wood or any other material suitable for the purpose and of any desired marginal contour as for example of the oblong rectangular form shown in the drawings. In both forms of the, invention the base 1 has embedded or 1n any suitable manner anchored within it a strip or block 2 of lead or other heavy metal or any other material found suitable for the purpose, the base for this purpose being preferably formed with a groove 3 extending longitudinally of its under side and parallel to its forward edge and the said groove being, if desired, restricted in the di .rection of its open side so; as to retain the block or strip 2 therein. Any suitable facmg 4 of leather, cloth, or other material may be applied to the under side of the base 1 so, that there will be no likelihood of marring of polished surfaces upon which the device may be disposed. v

In that form of the invention shown in Figure 1- of the drawings the base 1 is formed with two or more sockets 5 which open through its upper face and are located in a line parallel to the rear edge of the base and which are inclined downwardly and forwardly from the plane of the said upper face of the base. The back rest in this form of the invention is indicated in general by the numeral 6 and the same may be formed of wood or any other material suitable for the purpose and is in the nature of a plate or slab of the desired thickness and having any desired marginal outline. The forward face 7 of the back rest and the lower edge 8 thereof are positioned in planes at an acute angle to each. other, and the said edge 8 is formed with dowel pins which preferably occupy a plane parallel to the plane of the forward face 7 of the said rest, these pins being adapted to be fitted into the sockets 5 in the manner best shown in Figures 1 and 5 of the drawings with the lower edge 8 of the said rest resting fiat upon the upper face of the base 1. In this manner the back rest 6 is firmly supported upon the base in a position inclined upwardly and rearwardlv from the plane of the said face of the base and it will be understood that when the device is not in use and is to be carried about from place to place or stored away, the back rest may be separated from the base and disposed against the under side thereof so that the device as a whole will require less space for its accommodation than when the back rest is in position for use. 7 l

Permanently fixed upon the upper face of the base 1 in front of and in spacedrelation to the back rest 6 is a retaining member 10 preferably of the approximate triangular form shown in the several figures of the drawings 1 although it may have any other desired marginal contour. This member 10 maybe formed from wood or any other material suitable for the purpose and may be Secured at its lower edge, in any convenient manner to the said upper face of the base, and in the use of the device, as illustrated in Figures 1 and 8 of the drawings, the book, pamphlet, orthe like, to be supported, is disposed in opened condition betweenthe forward face of theback rest 6 and the rear face of the retaining member 10 and in the space 11 between these members. The back restfi affords a substantial support for the book or the like and the retaining member 10 serves to hold the book or the like in open condition and yet because of its approximate triangular form, it serves this purpose without obscuring any material part of the teXt of the book. It will be evident that the book or the like is supported in a rearwardly and upwardly inclined position by the device and that the supporting means is located near the rear side of the base 1 but due to the provision of the weight 2, the device is prevented from being overbalanced or being accldentally overturned.

In that form of the invention shown in Figures 6 and 7 of the drawings, the base 1 is formed in its upper side near its rear edge and parallel thereto with a. mortise 12 preferably inwardly tapered, and the .back rest 6 is formed with a tenon 13 extending longitudinally of its lower edge 8, the tenon being reinovably fitted into the mortise in the same near one side thereof and inclined upward.

ly in the direction of said side, and a weight element associated with thebase near the op-c posite side thereoff I 3. In a device the class described, a base, a back rest upstanding from the base near one side thereof and separable there from, and a retaining member also upstanding from the base in a plane parallel to; and spaced from the plane of the back rest, the space between the back rest and the; re-

taining member being unobstructed.

In testnnony whereof I affix my signature.

sassy savisrowmsrrm. [1,. s.] 

